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The Olympic Gold Medalist has announced his retirement. Kurt Angle will bid goodbye to WWE and his wrestling career at WrestleMania 35, And, it's genuinely a goodbye of one of the greatest entertainers in the history of the business. The 'Hall of Famer' has had a career that would make anyone proud, and we have been privileged to witness his journey.
In this article, we present to you 7 Kurt Angle matches that'd take you through a trip down the memory lane. These are definitely some of his greatest matches, but we haven't ranked them. Moreover, we invite you to tell us your favorite Kurt Angle match, that all of his fans should watch at least one more time. Let's celebrate one of the greatest careers in pro wrestling history.
Honorable mentions:
Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon: King of the Ring 2001
Watch this match because Shane McMahon made it out alive. We mean, it was so brutal that at one point Vince McMahon wanted to stop this fight.
Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar: WrestleMania 19
Watch this as well because Brock Lesnar made it out alive. Why would beastlike Brock Lesnar try a Shooting-Star Press? Because he could do it. However, he nearly broke his neck in this match. Make no mistake, it genuinely was one great match. But, nothing like that moment when Lesnar almost accidentally killed himself. Phew!
#7 Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett: TNA Genesis 2009
Surprising? Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett had a deeply personal and a long rivalry in TNA (now Impact Wrestling). Kurt's issues with alcohol and addiction, his divorce with his wife, Karen, and her subsequent affair and marriage to Jeff became fodder for gossip and a TV feud.
However, besides all the drama, Angle and Jarrett delivered some solid wrestling matches, and the best of their encounters came at TNA's Genesis 2009 when Angle faced Jarrett in a ‘No Disqualification' match.
The two veterans left nothing to wonder for their fans, as they fought everywhere and with everything. The match had some sick spots, most notably an Angle Slam off the ramp through a table. The kind of spot when that makes wonder if Jarrett would end up hurt in real, despite the talent of the wrestlers in action.
Also, two intense and mean chair shots by the competitors on one another towards the end ascertains why it's right that WWE has banned the thing in their organization. Still, Angle plays the intense merciless “Main Event Mafia” here, and he does so... 'Brutally.' The only let down was the end, which saw Angle rolling up Jarrett for the win. Yet, it's a match you would not regret to watch or re-watch today.
#6 Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels: WWE Vengeance 2005
Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle squared off in a WrestleMania 21 rematch on June 26, 2005, at WWE Vengeance. While the first match was magical, and one of the best in 'Mania history, its sequel came mightly close to living up to the hype from the original showdown.
With some intense shots, German Suplexes, a surprising turn-buckle powerbomb by Angle, great reversals and near-falls that truly had the crowd involved led to an amazing high-profile match. This match had all the drama that you'd expect from two of pro wrestling's best.
The only thing that hurt it was that we had already seen something unbelievable from the two earlier that year on the Showcase of the Immortals, WrestleMania. So, even though it came mighty close, it had a tough ask.
Hence, this match, while a classic in its own right, always falls a little short. Yet, that's not a complete story as it is definitely one of the best matches of 2005 and of Kurt Angle's storied career.
#5 Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson: TNA Lockdown 2010
Do you remember Mr. Kennedy from WWE? The same guy who'd have a microphone drop from the ceiling every time he entered the ring, so he could introduce himself as Misterrrrrr... Kennedy. Kennedy. Yes, WWE's ultimate ‘next big thing who never was' in spite of all the tools, had a good run with TNA under the ring name Mr. Anderson.
As it happened, he had been locked with Kurt Angle inside a cage at TNA Lockdown 2010. And, the result was a spectacular match. While this was a match of some serious vengeance and a story of Angle punishing Anderson, you can really watch the match for just two Kurt Angle spots.
Firstly, a top rope German Suplex to Mr. Anderson, that was nothing but brutal, and then a beautiful Moonsault off the top of the cage by the Olympic hero to his rival, where he seemed to have really landed on the top of Anderson's face. Ouch! It still feels insane.
We have to remember this match came after the Olympic Gold Medalist had had ‘Hall of Fame' worthy careers with both WWE and TNA, yet his desire to leave everything in there really makes this bout feel even more special. Undoubtedly, it's Kurt Angle's TNA's greatest match.
#4 Kurt Angle vs. Steve Austin: WWE SummerSlam 2001
This match is in this list for three big reasons. Firstly, Steve Austin's there playing the heel, the motivational leader of the Alliance, crowds against him, as he fought as the World Heavyweight Champion. Secondly, Kurt Angle, with the people complete by his side, looked to tame the Texas Rattlesnake. Last, the match was “epic" in its truest sense.
This match was bloody, brutal, obnoxious, lest fantastic. At one point, having delivered two Stunners, the latter of which drove Angle onto the floor, Austin drove Angle 5 times straight onto the ring post. Still, Angle found a way to put on the Ankle lock on Austin, first on the outside, and then inside the ring.
Everything from start until the drama in the final moments is amazing. The final moments hurt it, as Angle was ‘screwed' over by the Alliance referee Nick Patrick, and Austin walks out still the Champion. Yet, this was the match that truly escalated Angle to the top, and put him over. The match is worth much more than a watch.
#3 Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit: WWE Unforgiven 2002
From the start to the end, it's a wrestling purist's dream. We wouldn't be wrong if the same find the match orgasmic. It's the kind of matches that we miss at present - in the so-called "New Era" of WWE.
Two of WWE's greatest technical wrestlers put forth a display of technical brilliance. In fact, the first few minutes of the match relied entirely on mat-wrestling,
proving to be one of the greatest displays in the opening of a match without the use of any finisher or high spot, exemplifying the skill of the performers involved.
The match excels with the use of great reversals and two men's desire to outdo one another. In the end, even though Benoit outsmarted and outplayed Angle for a victory, yet there was nothing to separate the two men on the basis of performance that night.
#2 Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit: WWE Royal Rumble 2003
Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle squared off against one another yet again, aiming to put an end to a long rivalry. Little did anyone know that they were due to do things that night, which would outshine everything else done by anyone on that night, or anything they had done in their rivalry.
The Olympic Gold Medalist and The Rabid Wolverine put on one of the greatest matches in Royal Rumble history, delivering Suplexes one after another. It was more hard-hitting than any of their previous encounters and definitely left fans in awe of these superb athletes.
However, reliving the match could be a bit saddening too, especially at a point when he misses a flying headbutt, as it reminds us of all the things that have happened thereafter. Still, he was a damn fine performer and the way in which he even makes the shoulder tackle feel really tough, speaks volumes of his ability.
This was a great feud between two of the greatest in-ring technicians ever. Yet, what he did outside of the ring will always sadly but rightfully overshadow everything else. Still, a match you should definitely check out on the internet, as the WWE Network has deleted everything related to the man, who was Chris Benoit.
#1 Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels: WWE WrestleMania 21
Magic. Unbelievable magic. What would you expect when you leave two of WWE's greatest performers on the greatest stage in pro wrestling? Magic. And, that's exactly what these two, then, ‘future' Hall of Famers delivered at WrestleMania 21. From start to finish, this was an exhibition that wrestling fans can watch over and over again, and never get bored.
The best part was that the two men didn't rely much on either the Angle Slam or Sweet Chin Music - the finishers of both men. Rather, they told a story of in-ring brilliance. And, surprisingly Angle had been booked really strong, out-wrestling and outclassing Michaels throughout the match.
It's just right that one of the best matches of Angle's career also emphasizes why we call him the master of the Ankle lock as he did some brilliant reversals right through the match, also tapping out Shawn Michaels in the end.
Well, Wrestling fans will miss Kurt Angle, and it's true...
